Continuous mining machine of the side cutting auger type



Dec. 15, 1964 J. s. NEWTON ETAL 3,161,439

CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE oT THE SIUE CUTTING AUCUN TYPE Filed July 2e, 1961 4 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 15, 1964 J. s. NEWTON ETAL CONTINUOUS MNING MACHINE OF' THE SIDE CUTTING AUGER TYPE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26, 1961 Dec; l5; 1964 J. s. NEWTON ETAL 3,161,439

CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE 0F THE SIDE CUTTING AUGER TYPE Filed July 26. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Dec 15, 1964 J. s. NEWTON ETAL 3,161,439

CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE OF THE SIDE CUTTING AUGER TYPE Filed July 26, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /0 gint-S United States Fatent fi'ie- 3,161,439 Patented Dec;l l5, ld

K 4 3,161,439 CONTINUOUS' MINING MACHINE 0F THE SIDE CUTTING AUGER TYPE .lohn S. Newton', Glen'llllyri', Emil ,F.Hlins'ky, La Grange Park, Joseph jGonsld, Chicago, and Richard Lundquistf, Palos'I-eiglts,lll., assignors to Goodman Mannfactoring Company, Chicago, Ill., a' corporation of Illinois Filed July 26, 1%1, Ser. No. 126,904 14 Claims. (Cl. 2959-67) This invention relates to improvements in mining machines and more particularly relates to an improved form of low vein mining machine of the side Vcutting auger continuous mining type, `for'rnining and loading thin seams ofcoal. A

A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved formof low veinicontinuous mining and loading machine of the side cutting auger type arranged with a view toward simplicity and compactness in constluction and eiciency in operation.

Anotherfobject of the invention is to improve upon the continuous mining and loading machines heretofore inuse vfor Vmining thin seams of coal by lmounting two side' cutting V'mining heads to mine in arcuate pathsfrom the ribs of the working place to the center thereof in which the mining heads' progress the mined material towards the conveyor of the machine, and by loading the mined material onto the'conveyor Vof the machine by an eicient scraper and deliector arrangement and independent floatingly mounted inclined conveyors associated with each side cutting mining head;

A further object of `the invention is to provide an improved scraper and conveyor arrangement, forming a continuation of the scrolls forming the slide cutting mining heads, in the form of screw conveyors, inclined upwardly from the ground from the front end portion of the conveyors to pass over the top of the conveyor of the machine, and ground engaging Scrapers maintaining the mined material in the paths of the screw conveyors, together with floating mountings for the screw conveyors, accommodating the conveyors and Scrapers to readily conform to an uneven mine bottom. Y

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of screw conveyor cooperating with the side cutting mining heads and cuttings collecting means therefor, in which housings opening in the `directions of advance of the mining heads have helical scrolls journalled therein, and have scraper blades depending therefrom, having scraping engagement with the ground, and in which single jacks iloatingly support the housings for the conveyors and elevate and lower the conveyors, and accommodate the scraper blades to freely conform to an uneven mine bottom, during' the mining operation.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings where- 1n:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of a continuous mining and loading machine constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the mining heads extending longitudinally of the main frame of the machine in solid, and showing the laterally extended positions of the mining heads at the beginning of a sumping operation in broken lines;

VFIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of one mining head and its support, with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in horizontal section, in order to more clearly illustrate the details of the invention; i

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 3 3 of FIGURE 2 showing the spiral conveyor and the floating support means therefor;

FIGURE 4 is afragmentary sectional view taken substantially .alongline 4 4 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the adjustable mounting for the mining head on its boom arm; f

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary transverse sec'tiorial view taken substantially alongvv line 5 5 of FIGURE j2, showl ing the elevating means 'for the mining head with respect to its supportingboom armi FIGURE 6 `is a fragmentary fro'nt end view of the machine shown in FIGURE l with the mining heads broken away and the supporting boom arm therefor positioned at right angles to the centerline of themachine, and with certain other parts broken away` and shown in vertical section, morderv to illustrate the support for a supporting boom armfor a'mininghead on the main frame of the machine; Y

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 7 7 of FIGURE 2 with the mining head positioned at substantially right angles with respect to the center of the machine, and illustrating the support for the front end portion of the conveyor on its associated boom arm and the scraper and deflector means cooperating with the mining head.;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 8 8 of FIGURE 2, showing the mining head in 'an elevated position;

' FIGURE 9 is an enlarged detail plan view, showing the connector between the boom arm and spiral conveyor housing loosely connecting the housing to the boom arm and accommodating relative movement of the housing with Vrespect to the boom arm;

FIGURE 10 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 10 10 of FIGURE 9. :In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FI"- URE l of the drawings, We have shown a mining machine ltlof the scissors side cutting auger continuous mining type, adapted to cut out and load a mineral seam, such as a'seam of coal,n by feeding two side cutting mining heads 11 11 sidewise into the working face of the coal seam by bodily advance of the machine toward the working face, when said mining heads are in the extreme laterally extended positions indicated by the broken lines in FIG- URE 1, and then by feedingy the mining heads 11 of the auger type in arcuatepathsltoward each other across the working face about fixed vertical axes at the forward end portion of the machine, While the machine is held from movement. i

-T he mining machine 10 includes generally a main frame 12 mounted on a pairA of laterally spaced continuous traction tread devices 13, for propelling the machineV from working place to working place and advancing the machine toward a working'face, to feed the side cutting mining heads 11 thereinto, when in the laterally extended positions shown by broken lines in FIGURE 1.

Extending along the central portion of the main frame 12 is a laterally flexible single strand chain and night conveyor 15 extending from a position adjacent the ground beneathv an inclined apron 16 extendingv across the front of said conveyor. The chain and iiight conveyor 1S extends in an upwardly inclined direction from the apron 16 to and alongV the top portion of the machine and has a laterally swingable rear end portion 17, swung from side to side and maintained in a desired position with respect to the centerline of the machine by iiuid pressure operated jacks 19, in a conventional manner.

The side cutting mining heads 11 are mounted on boom arms 2o, herein shown as being tubular and having right angled support frame portions Z1 extending at right angles with respect thereto and vertically pivoted on the main frame r12 at their inner ends on vertical pivot pins 23 (FIGURE 6) disposed at opposite sides of the conveyor 15. Each pivot pin 23 is mounted in a bottom piate- 2A of the main frame 12 at its lower end and in an end cap at its upper end, secured to a top plate 26. The right angled frame structure 21 extends between the plates 24 and 26 and is pivotally mounted thereon on anti-friction bearings 27, mounted on the pivot pin 23 adjacent the inner sides of the bottom and top plates 24 and 26 respectively.

The boom arms 20 and side cutting mining heads 11 are swung laterally about the axes of the pivot pins 23 across the front end of the machine by hydraulic jacks 29. The hydraulic jacks Z9 are shown in FIGURE 1 as being two stage hydraulic jacks, pivotally connected at their head ends to connector brackets extending laterally from opposite sides of the main frame 12 and pivotally connected at their piston rod ends to connectors 31, mounted on the boom arms 20 intermediate the ends thereof and extending inwardly therefrom beneath the bottoms thereof.

Each side cutting mining head 11 includes a drum 33 having a helical scroll 34 extending therealong having cutter bit carrying blocks 35 mounted thereon adjacent the periphery thereof, and having the usual cutter bits 36 detachably mounted therein. Each drum 33 also has cutter bit carrying blocks 37 extending about its periphery at the forward end thereof and carrying the usual cutter bits 39, for trimming the rib of the working place as the drum is sumped into the mine face when in the laterally extended position shown by broken lines in FIGURE 1.

Each drum 33 is suitably mounted on a drum drive shaft 4G, extending rearwardly therefrom and journalled adjacent the drum 33 in an end wall 41 of a gear housing 43 on an anti-friction bearing 44 (FIGURE 2). The drum shaft extends within the gear housing 43 and is journalled at its inner end in an intermediate wall 45 of said gear housing on an anti-friction bearing 46. A motor 47 is suitably secured to and projects rearwardly of the rear wall of the gear housing 43 and has a motor shaft 48 extending within said gear housing and driving the drum drive shaft 40 and mining head 11 through a geared reduction train indicated generally by reference character 49.

The gear housing 43 has a semi-cylindrical bearing portion 50 extending partially about a tubular boom arm Z0 and secured thereto for pivotal movement about said boom arm by an end cap 51, secured to said bearing portion and having a semi-cylindrical inner periphery 53. Nuts and bolts 54 are provided to retain said end cap to said bearing portion to support the gear housing 43, motor 47 and side cutting mining head 11 on the boom arm 20 for vertical adjustment with respect thereto about the longitudinal axis of said boom arm.

The means for adjustably moving the mining head 11 about the longitudinal axis of the boom arm 20 and for retaining said mining head in a selected position of adjustment with respect to said boom arm is shown in FIG- URES 2 and 5 as comprising a cylinder 55 having a piston rod 56 extensible therefrom. The cylinder 55 has a connector ear 57 depending from its head end, connected between the furcations of a bifurcated bracket 59, depending from the forward end portion of lthe boom arm 20.

A pivot pin 66 is provided to pivotally connect the ear 57 between the furcations of the bifurcated bracket 59. The piston rod 56 extends within a connector bracket 61 extending forwardly of the front end wall 41 of the gear housing 43 and is pivotally connected to said connector bracket as by a pivot pin 63. The admission or release of fluid under pressure from the head end of the cylinder will thus raise or lower the mining head 11 about the axis of the boom arm 20, and the holding of fluid under pressure in said cylinder will retain said mining head in fixed relation with respect to said boom arm to effect a mining operation at a selected elevation with respect to the ground.

A means is provided to confine the mined coal to the scroll 34 to effect the progression of the mined coal toward the conveyor 15 during the mining operation, which is herein shown as comprising a cuttings confining plate 65 cooperating with a scraper blade 66 extending along the mining head 11 and having scraping engagement with the mine floor for progressing the mined material inwardly with the mining head as the mining head is fed toward the longitudinal center of the machine.

rl`he cuttings confining plate 65 is connected at its inner end to the gear housing 43 for movement therewith and is supported adjacent its outer end on an arm 67 pivotally mounted on a shaft 69, extending forwardly of the boom arm 20 coaxial with the longitudinal axis thereof. The cuttings confining plate 65 has a ilap 70 suitably secured thereto and extending therealong and depending therefrom along the advance face of the scraper blade 66, to close the gap between said cuttings confining plate 65 and scraper blade 66 in the various positions of adjustment of the mining head 11 and cuttings confining plate 65 with respect to said scraper blade (FIGURE 8). The scraper blade 66 has spaced arms 71 extending therefrom toward the boom arm 20 and pivotally connected to a shaft or boss 73, extending forwardly of the front furcation of the bracket 59. The scraper blade 66 is thus supported for floating scraping engagement with the mine oor about the axis of the boss or shaft 73. A roof engaging deector plate 75 extends along the upper end portion of the cuttings conning plate 65 and is hinged thereto on a hinge pin 76 (FIGURE 7). The roof engaging deiiector plate 75 is shown in FIGURE 7 as extending horizontally from the cuttings confining plate 65 toward the boom arm 20 and as resting on a stop block 77 on the cuttings confining plate 65.

A flap 79 extends along and upwardly from the upper end portion of the cuttings confining plate 65 to flexibly engage the mine roof when the machine is mining thin seams of coal and the deflector plate 75 is in the horizontal position shown in FIGURE 7.

A hydraulic cylinder 80 having a piston rod S1 extensible therefrom is provided to engage the deector plate 75 with the mine roof when mining relatively thick seams of coal and to raise the scraper blade 66 out of scraping engagement with the ground, as when it is desired to transpor-t the machine from working place to working place. The cylinder 80 is disposed between the arms 71 and is pivotally mounted thereon on a pivot pin 82.

The piston rod 81 extends within a connector 83, de'- pending from the bottom of the roof engaging deflector 75, and is pivotally connected thereto on a pivot pin 84. The admission of fluid under pressure to the head end of the cylinder 80 under the control of suitable valve means (not shown) will thus pivot the roof engaging deflector to come into engagement with the mine roof to deect the mined mineral to lthe cuttings confining plate 65, and the holding of lluid under pressure in the head end of the cylinder 80 will retain said roof engaging deflector 75 in engagement with the mine roof.

Upon the admission of uid under pressure to the piston rod end of the cylinder 80, the deflector 75 will be retractibly moved into engagement with the stop block 77. The continued admission of uid under pressure to the piston rod end of the cylinder will then raise the scraper blade 66 above the mine iloor about the axis of the pivot pin 73, to accommodate tramming of the machine from working place to working place.

A floating screw conveyor 85 is associated with each mining head 11 to take the mined material delivered by the scrolls 34 and progress the mined material onto the conveyor 15. As shown in FIGURES 2, 3, 6 and 7, each screw conveyor comprises a scroll 86 on a hollow shaft 37 and rotatably journalled at its opposite ends to extend along the semi-cylindrical wall 88 of a housing 89 open-` 'lng in the direction of feeding movement of the miningJ ead.

The housings? isshown as'being vinclinedl upwardly from its forward end and as being spaced above-the 4apron 16 at its rear end to overlap said apron, and extends along the conveyor 15, toprogress the mined material-thereonto as the side cutting mining heads 11 move from the laterally extended positions shown'by' broken""lines in FIG- URE 1 to their inwardly extended positions'jshown in this figure. A bearing support membe90 projects radially inwardly of the cylindrical-wall 8S ofthe housing'89 adjacent the forward end of saidhousingand forms a bearing support for the` forward end portion of the screw conveyor 85. The rear end portion'of 1the screw conveyor 85 is supported within a gear cas'ing"91,` having the conventional reduction gearing contained therein, for driving said screw conveyor.

-The screw conveyor is driven from theredu'ction gear ing 49,v contained withinithe 'gear housing 43, through a gear train 93 driving asha ft"94 journalledwithin the gear housing 43 and extending outwardly thereof through the rear wall thereof. The shaft'94y forms a drive member for a universal coupling'95 driving anextensible shaft 96.

`The extensible shaft 96 in turn has connection with the gearing contained withinthe gear casing 91, `to drive the screw conveyorSS, through a universal coupling 97, a shaft 98 driven thereby and a universal coupling 99 driving a drive shaft 1110 extending within the gear casing 91 and forming a driving member for the 'gearing therein. The universal drive connection just described, thus accommodates the screw conveyorA g5 tobe ldriven in the various positions of vertical adjustment of the mining yhead 11 and gear casing 43 with respect to said screw conveyor.

The housing 89 has a vertical-wall 101 extending upwardly therefrom for` substantially rthe length thereof.' A connector 103 extends from the vertical` Wall 101 toward the boom arm` 2t) at the `upper end portionv of said'wall and forms a connecting means for a cylinder- 104 of a hydraulic jack, on alpivot. pin 105 (FIGURE 3). The cylinder 1114 has a piston rod 106 extensiblefrom the lower end thereofapivotally connected at its lower end to a connector1t17 mounted onand extendingV from a bar 108 suitably mounted at its rear end on the night angled portion 21 of the boom arm 2t), adjacent the pivot thereof, and extending therefrom 'parallel-to the tubular portion of the-boom arm. The cylinder `104i and piston rod 106 thus form suspension means for the housinge89 and screw conveyor -85 intermediate the ends lof said housing, suspending said housing from said cylinder. The connections betweenwsaid cylinder -and piston rod to-'the connectors 105 and 167 respectively are relatively loose," to oatingly Asupport the housing 'S9 andscrew conveyor S5'r to conform `to an irregular mine bottom.

The housing@ hasa Ibracket 1119 ldependingtherefrom intermediate the ends thereof forming a pivotal support for a ground'engagingshoe 11t4on a`pivot pin 111. A scraper bladei112 depends from the lower end portion of the housing S8 froml af position adjacenty 'the shoe 110` to the forward end: portion thereof .and has sltidable engagement with the ground," to scrapethemined material toward the center of i the machine: and'- retain the mined `material` into the path ofthe associated screw conveyor 85V during the mining and loading operation.

VThe gap'.between'thefscraper-blade'112and` the main frame 12 andconveyor 162? is closed byf a-'iller plate 113.

The illerplate 113 has av lug115="extendirig rearwardly ofits rear'end `portion intermediate the upper and lowerv ends .thereof universallylmountdf on jai pivot'pin 1.16" ex- Vtending upwardlyof ane'ar 11.17 Cmountedon"andextendj ing outwardly'fof theA frame forhefconveyorj15. T he oppositeend ofthe filler plate 113fisuniversallyipivotally connected to a'lug '119 onatpivot pin (notfshown) in a manner similar to which the rear end ofsaidiiller platte V"is pivotally connectedtothe conveyor'frame.

j adapted to extend along opposite sides of an 'annular boss 118 extending forwardly of the front end wall 41 of the gear housing 43 as Vtheside cutting 'mining head 11is lowered to the position shown in FIGURE '7. The plate 121 is pivotally connected at its rear end between spaced ears 124 extending from the tubular boom arm2tl on a pivot pin 125. The plate 121 thus forms a pivotal connector for the forward end portion of the housing 89 and also forms a confining means for the cuttings, to effect the flow of the cuttings along said plate toward the outer side thereof, to be progressed into the path of the screw conveyor 85.

A-retaining and bearing means is provided to loosely retain the rear end portion of the housing 89 to the boom arm 2lb and accommodate tioating movement of the housing 89 with respect to said boom arm, which is shown in FIGURES 2, 3, 9 and l0 as being mounted on and spaced upwardly of the bar 108 on the upper end of an upright support leg 126. The retaining and bearingmeans includes a plate 127 mounted on the upper end portion of said upright support leg as by machine screws 128 and extending toward the housing 89. The plate 127 has an arcuate bearing plate 129 extending across its outer end and beyond opposite sides thereof into abutting engagemen-t with a bearing pla-te 130 spaced outwardly of the semi-cylindrical wall portion of the housing 89 toward the plate 129 and secured thereto as by parallel supports 1341 extend from the housing 89 towards the bearing plate 129. The bearing plate 129 thus'forms a rocking bearing plate for the bearing plate 13) accommodating rocking movement of the bearing plate 130 and housing 89 about said Vplate 129, as well as accommodating up and down movement of said housing with respect to said bearing plate 129. The plate 131i has a retainer arm 131 extending from one end thereof toward the upright support leg 126 beyond the adjacent end of the bearing plate 129. Theretainer arm131 has an inturned V,end 132 turned inwardly along the inner side of the bearing plate 129 to loosely retain Ithe housing S9 to the upright support leg 126, but to accommodate movement of the housing S9 towardand from said upright support leg 126. A retainer angle 133 extends upwardly of the bar 108 along the outer side of the retainer arm 131 to retain the inturned end or gib 132 to engage the inner side of the bearing plate 129 and prevent undue separation of the plates 129 vand 131). Y

The housing S9 and screw conveyor 85 mounted therein are thus floatingly mounted intermediaftethe ends of the housing on the cylinder t? and piston rod 81 to accommodate the scraper blade 112 to readily move along the ground and maintain the mined material in advance Vof the screw conveyor 35 during the mining operation,

-ing machine herein described, where theseam is of substantially the thickness of the cutting diameters of the side `cut-ting mining heads 11, the `seam may be mined in a single mining and loading operation.

`When, however, .theA seam isfthickerthanA thecutting diameters of-theside cutting'mining heads'11gthe seam may be mined in benches,ithe first mining operation being Y along the iloorV todefine the floor lineand the second The screw conveyor dispivotally connected to the t `tuln'ilar-boom arm-2t adjacent the forward e'nd "portion ,of said screw conveyor by A'a plate f 121 extending from mining operation being 'alongV the roof,wi`th the mining jheads inthe elevated positionshownin FIGURES, to def tine the roof line.

{In mining along thelloor, themining headsmay'be'in fthe positions indicatedby broken-lines in'FIGURE 7,

being mined and the scraper` blade 6d moving along the mine floor.

The boom arms 2G are first s vung at right angles wit respect to the conveyor 15 and to the position shown by broken lines in FlGURE 1 by operation of the hydraulic jacks 29, with the forward ends of the side cutting mining heads 11 positioned adjacent the ribs of the working place to trim the ribs.

With the mining heads positioned to cut along the oor line, the motors 47 may be started to cause said mining heads to rotate toward each other from the floor toward the roof.

Assuming the conveyor 15 is in operation, power may be applied to the continuous traction tread devices 13, to advance the mining heads l1 along the ribs a distance suliicient to trim and maintain the ribs parallel. The main frame of the machine may then be held stationary and power may be applied to the hydraulic jacks 29 to feed the mining heads 11 inwardly toward each other and mine out the working place, as indicated by dashed lines in FlGURE 1.

During inward swinging movement of the mining heads toward each other, the scraper blades ed cooperating with the cuttings confining plates 65 will progress the mined material along the ground, toward the center of the ma* chine and the scrolls 34 will advance the mined material rearwardly therealong and outwardly along the plate 121 into the paths of the screw conveyors 8S.

The floating screw conveyors 85 and associated scraper blades 112 in turn moving inwardly with the mining heads 11 will progress the mined material rearwardly toward the conveyor 1S, the material being maintained in the paths of said screw conveyors by the scraper blades 112 and the filler plates 113, effecting the progressing of the material over the inclined apron 16 onto the receiving end of the conveyor 15. The screw conveyors 85 being inclined to extend over the receiving end of the conveyor 15 effectively serve to progress the mined material onto the conveyor 15 to effect a continuous progress of the piled up material toward and onto the conveyor 15.

After the completion of the first mining operation along the floor line, the machine may ybe backed from the working face by operation of the continuous` traction tread devices 13 and the mining heads may be raised by the supply of fluid under pressure to the head ends of the cylinders 55 into the positions shown in FIGURE 8 and may be held in these positions by the holding of uid under pressure in said cylinders. The roof engaging plates 75 may be also raised into engagement with the roof by the supply of uid under pressure to the cylinders S and the holding of uid in said cylinders. With the mining heads in the position shown in FIGURE 8 at substantially right angles with respect to the conveyor 15 as shown by broken lines in FGURE 1, the mining operation just described rnay then be repeated, the material mined dropping tothe floor and being-.progressed inwardly by the scroll 34 and scraper blades 66 to accumulate and be progressed onto the conveyor 15 as the boom arms 2G are fed inwardly toward each other. y

While we have herein shown and described one form in which our invention may be embodied, it should be understood that various modifications and variations in the invention may be attained without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof, as defined by the claims appended hereto.

We claim as our invention:

1. A continuous mining machine of the class describedy comprising a mobile main frame, a conveyor extending along said main frame from a position adjacent the ground at the forward end of said main frame, `a boom arm on each side of said conveyor and extending in advance thereof, means pivotally mounting said boom arms on said main frame for movement about vertical axes atopposite sides of said main frame, said boom arms having side cutting mining heads rotatably supported'thereon and extending in advance thereof, each side cutting mining head including a scroll having cutter bits projecting therefrom and cuttings confining means including scraper blades having scraping engagement with the ground, means positioning said boom arms at right angles with respect to said conveyor and for swinging said boom arms toward each other across the front end of said conveyor, and individual screw conveyors extending along the inner sides of said boom arms and forming rearward continuations of said scrolls and inclined upwardly from the ground from positions adjacent the discharge ends of said scrolls as they extend along said boom arms and extending over said conveyor as said boom arms move toward each other toward the extended center of said conveyor, and cuttings confining means extending downwardly from said screw conveyors into scraping engagement with the ground.

2. A continuous mining machine comprising -a mobile main frame, a conveyor extending along said main frame from a position adjacent the ground at the forward end of said main frame, a boom arm pivotally mounted on said main frame for movement about a vertical axis at one side of said conveyor, adjacent the forward end portion of said conveyor and extending in advance thereof, a side cutting mining head carried on said boom arm and extending in advance thereof and including a scroll having cutting bits projecting therefrom, means positioning said arm at right angles to said conveyor and swinging said boom arm across the forward end of said conveyor to the extended longitudinal centerline thereof, and conveyor means extending along the inner side of said boom arm and forming a rearward continuation of said scroll including a helical scroll, a housing therefor opening toward the extended longitudinal center of the machine, as the mining head moves inwardly, and a scraper blade extending downwardly from said scroll for scraping engagement with the ground, for progressing the mined material to be picked up by said scroll and to be deposited onto said conveyor during advance of said mining head toward the center of the machine.

3. A continuous mining machine comprising a mobile main frame, a conveyor extending along said frame from -a position adjacent the ground at the forward end of said frame, a boom arm pivotally mounted on said frame for movement about a vertical axis Iadjacent the forward end of said frame at one side of said conveyor, a side cutting mining head carried by said boom arm and extending in advance thereof, means for rotatably driving said mining head about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said boom arm, conveyor means forming a rearward continuation of said scroll and carried by said boom arm and extending along the side of said boom arm adjacent said conveyor and including an inclined housing inclined upwardly from the ground adjacent its forward end as it extends along said boom arm and overlapping said conveyor as said boom arm and mining head moves toward the center of the machine, said housing opening toward the working face and center of the machine as said boom arm progresses toward the extended centerline of the machine, a scroll rotatably journalled within said housing, and support means for said housing suspending said housing from said boom arm and pivotally connected to said housing intermediate the ends thereof.

4. A continuous mining machine in accordance with claim 3, wherein the support means for the housing includes a fluid pressure operated jack suspending said housing from said boom arm and operable to elevate said housing out of engagement with the ground.

Y5. In a continuous mining machine and in combination with a laterally swingable boom arm having a side cutting mining head spaced to one side thereof and projecting forwardly therefrom, means pivotally mounting Vsaid mining vhead on said boom for vertical adjustment with respect thereto about the longitudinal axis of said boom arm, a cuttings confining plate extending between said mining head and boom arm and mounted for vertical adjustable movement withI saidv mining head, a roof engaging plate extending along and pivotally mounted on the upper end portion of said cuttings confining plate, a scraper blade pivotally mounted on said boom arm for scraping engagement with the ground, and forming a downward continuation of said cuttings confining plate, and hydraulic cylinder and piston means connected between said scraper blade and roof engaging plate for engaging said roof engaging plate with a mine roof and for raising said scraper bla-de above the ground as said roof engaging plate is in a lowermost position of adjustment.

6. A continuous mining machine comprising a mobile main frame, a conveyor extending along said main frame from a position adjacent the ground at the forward end of said main frame, a boom arm pivotally mounted on said main frame at one side of said conveyor for movement about a vertical axis at the forward end portion of Said main frame, a side cutting mining head extending forwardly of said `hoorn arm, means pivotally mounting said mining head on said boom arm for vertical adjustable movement with respect thereto about an axis extending longitudinally of said boom arm, said mining head including a rotatably driven scroll having cutter bits projecting therefrom, a cuttings confining plate extending along the retreating side of said mining head and mounted on said boom arm for movement with said mining head, a roof engaging plate extending along lthe upper end portion of said cuttings confining plate and mounted thereon for engagement with the mine roof, a scraper blade extending downwardly of said cuttings confining plate for scraping engagement with the ground and pivotally mounted on said boom arm for movement about an axis ,extending longitudinally thereof, uidv pressure jack means connected between said scraper blade and roof engaging plate for engaging said plate with the mine roof, stop means being provided for said roof engaging plate in a lowermost position of adjustment of said plate and said fluid pressure jack means being operable to elevate said scraper blade above the ground and retain said scraper blade in an elevated position with respect to the ground.

7. In a continuous mining machine and in combination with a laterally swingable boom arm having a side cutting mining head projecting forwardly therefrom and including a cutter bit carrying scroll rotatable about a horizontal axis, means forming a rearward conveying continuation of said scroll comprising a housing inclined upwardly with respect to the ground from its forward end adjacent said scroll, said housing opening in the direction of travel of said boom arm and having a helical scroll journalled therein and extending therealong, a scraper blade depending from said housing into scraping engagement with the ground, means connecting said housing with said boom arm to advance said housing and scraper blade with said boom arm, and cylinder and piston means pivotally mounted on said boom arm for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said scroll and having pivotal connection with said housing intermediate the ends of said housing on an axis parallel to the axis of pivotal connection of said cylinder and piston means on said boom arm, and supporting said housing and scraper blade to follow the ground and operable to elevate and lower said scraper blade with respect to the ground.

8. In a continuous mining machine and in combination with a laterally springable boom arm-having a side cutting mining head projecting forwardlyl therefrom and including a cutter bit carrying scroll, meansrforming a rearward conveying continuation of said scroll comprising a housing inclined upwardly with respect to the ground from its forward end adjacent said scroll, said housing opening in the direction of travel of said boom arm and having a helical scroll journalled therein, a scraper blade depending from said housing into scraping engagement with the ground, an arm extending from said housing, adjacent the forward end portion thereof, toward said boom arm and pivotally connected with said boom arm, for movement about an axis extending longitudinally of said scroll, a relatively loose guiding and retaining connection between lthe rear end of said housing and said boom arm, and cylinder and pistonmeans pivotally mounted on said boom arm for movement about an axis extending longitudinally of said scroll and pivotally supporting said housing intermediate the ends of said housing for movement about an axis parallel to the axis ofl connection of said cylinder and piston means to said boom arm and supporting said housing and scraper blade to follow the ground, and operable to elevate said scraper blade out of engagement with the ground.

9. A continuous mining machine in accordance with claim 8, wherein the arm extending from the forward end of the boom arm andV pivotally connected to the boom arm for movement about an axis extending longitudinally of the scroll extends generally vertically and has substantial area and extends along the rear end portion of the cutter bit carrying scroll and forms a deflector lplate cooperating with the cutter `bit carrying scrollto effect the progression of the cuttings along said arm to accumulate in the path of said housing and helical scroll.

l0. A continuous mining machine comprising a mobile main frame, a conveyor extending along said main frame from a position adjacent the ground at the forward end of said main frame, a boom arm pivotally mounted on said main frame `for movement about a vertical axis at the forward .end of said main frame disposed to one side of said conveyor, a side cutting mining head carried by saidV boom arm and extending in advance thereof and including a scroll having cutter bits projecting radially therefrom, a scraper blade extending along the retreating side of said scroll, means for laterally feeding saidboom arm and scroll about said vertical axis, a gathering conveyor forming a rearward continuation of said scroll and carried by said boom arm and including a housing extending along said boom arm and having a semi-cylindrical wall portion opening to the advance side of said boom arm and inclined upwardly with respect to the ground from its forward end into cutting discharge relation with respect to said conveyor at its rear end, a conveyor scroll extending along and rotatably journalled in said semicylindrical wall portion of said housing, a scraper blade depending from said housing for scraping engagement with the ground, an arm extending laterally of the forward end portion of said housing toward said boom arm and a pivot pin extending longitudinally of said boom arm, pivotally connecting said arm to said boom arm, pivotal support means for said housing on said boom arm intermediate the ends of said housing, supporting said housing and scraper blade on said boom arm for movement about vertically spaced axes extending longitudinally of said scroll to accommodate said scraper blade to engage and follow the ground, and a retaining connection between said housing and said boom arm adjacent the rear end portion of said housing, loosely retaining said housing to said boom arm and providing a bearing and guiding engaging connection between said boom arm and housing.

11. A continuous mining machine in accordance with claim l0, wherein the supporting connection for said housing on said boom arm comprises a vertically extending hydraulic cylinder and piston pivotally connected to said boom arm for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said scroll and pivotally suspending said housing from its upper end portion on an axis extending parallel to the axis of pivotal connection of said cylinder and piston to said boom arm and disposed intermediate the ends of said housing.

l2. A continuous mining machine comprising a mobile main frame, a conveyor extending along said main frame from a position adjacent the ground at the forward end thereof, a boom arm pivotally mounted on said main frame for movement about a vertical axis disposed at one side of said conveyor and adjacent the forward end of said main frame, a side cutting mining head rotatably journalled on and extending in advance of said boom arm., means carried by said boom arm for rotatably driving said mining head, said mining head including a rotatably driven scroll having cutter bits projecting therefrom, a deflector plate extending along the retreating side of said mining head and mounted on said boom arm for movement therewith, a scraper blade pivotally mounted on said boom arm for scraping engagement with the ground and cooperating with said deflector plate to effect the progression of the cuttings along said scroll beyond the rear end thereof, and a screw conveyor extending rearwardly of said scroll and spaced in advance of said scroll in the direction of feeding movement thereof and inclined upwardly from the ground from its forward end portion and overlapping said conveyor as said boom arm moves toward the extended longitudinal axis of said conveyor, a scraper blade extending downwardly from said screw conveyor into scraping engagement with the ground, means pivotally confining the forward end portion of said screw conveyor for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said scroll, other means loosely confining the rear end portion of said screw conveyor to said boom arm, and suspension means pivotally mounted on said boom arm for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said scroll and pivotally supporting said screw conveyor intermediate the ends of said conveyor about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said scroll and forming a pivotal suspension means for said screw conveyor and the scraper blade extending downwardly therefrom, accommodating said scraper blade to conform to an uneven mine bottom.

13. A continuous mining machine, comprising a mobile main frame, a conveyor extending along said main frame from a position adjacent the ground at the forward end of said main frame, a separate boom arm on each side of said main frame and extending in advance thereof and vertically pivoted on said main frame on each side of said conveyor, each boom arm having a side cutting mining head mounted thereon and extending in advance thereof, means moving said boom arms and mining heads across the forward end of said main frame to effect a mining operation, a scraper blade extending along the retreating side of each mining head for scraping engagement with the ground, means for mounting said scraper blade on said boom arm for vertical movement with respect to the ground, individual screw conveyors extending along the insides of said boom arms for conveying the material mined by said mining heads toward said conveyor, cuttings conining means extending along the retreating sides of said screw conveyors and forming bearing support means for said screw conveyors and having scraper blades depending therefrom for engagement with the ground, and means mounted on said boom arms and having supporting connection with said cuttings conning means, for elevating said cuttings confining means, screw coveyors and scraper blades above the ground.

14. A continuous mining machine in accordance with claim 13 in which the means for elevating said scraper blades and screw conveyors with respect to the ground, comprises individual hydraulic cylinder and piston means supported on said boom arms and forming support means for said cuttings confining means, scraper blades and said screw conveyors.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,920,879 Driehaus Jan. 12, 1960 2,954,220 Bergmann Sept. 27, 1960 2,979,319 Anderson Apr. 11, 1961, 2,986,385 Densmore May 30, 1961 

1. A CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING A MOBILE MAIN FRAME, A CONVEYOR EXTENDING ALONG SAID MAIN FRAME FROM A POSITION ADJACENT THE GROUND AT THE FORWARD END OF SAID MAIN FRAME, A BOOM ARM ON EACH SIDE OF SAID CONVEYOR AND EXTENDING IN ADVANCE THEREOF, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID BOOM ARMS ON SAID MAIN FRAME FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT VERTICAL AXES AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID MAIN FRAME, SAID BOOM ARMS HAVING SIDE CUTTING MINING HEADS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED THEREON AND EXTENDING IN ADVANCE THEREOF, EACH SIDE CUTTING MINING HEAD INCLUDING A SCROLL HAVING CUTTER BITS PROJECTING THEREFROM AND CUTTING CONFINING MEANS INCLUDING SCRAPER BLADES HAVING SCRAPING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GROUND, MEANS POSITIONING SAID BOOM ARMS AT RIGHT ANGLES WITH RESPECT TO SAID CONVEYOR AND FOR SWINGING SAID BOOM ARMS TOWARD EACH OTHER ACROSS THE FRONT END OF SAID CONVEYOR, AND INDIVIDUAL SCREW CONVEYORS EXTENDING ALONG THE INNER SIDES OF SAID BOOM ARMS AND FORMING REARWARD CONTINUATIONS OF SAID SCROLLS AND INCLINED UPWARDLY FROM THE GROUND FROM POSITIONS ADJACENT THE DISCHARGE ENDS OF SAID SCROLLS AS THEY EXTEND ALONG SAID BOOM ARMS AND EXTENDING OVER SAID CONVEYOR AS SAID BOOM ARMS MOVE TOWARD EACH OTHER TOWARD THE EXTENDED CENTER OF SAID CONVEYOR, AND CUTTINGS CONFINING MEANS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID SCREW CONVEYORS INTO SCRAPING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GROUND.
 5. IN A CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE AND IN COMBINATION WITH A LATERALLY SWINGABLE BOOM ARM HAVING A SIDE CUTTING MINING HEAD SPACED TO ONE SIDE THEREOF AND PROJECTING FORWARDLY THEREFROM, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID MINING HEAD ON SAID BOOM FOR VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID BOOM ARM, A CUTTINGS CONFINING PLATE EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID MINING HEAD AND BOOM ARM AND MOUNTED FOR VERTICAL ADJUSTABLE MOVEMENT WITH SAID MINING HEAD, A ROOF ENGAGING PLATE EXTENDING ALONG AND PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE UPPER END PORTION OF SAID CUTTINGS CONFINING PLATE, A SCRAPER BLADE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BOOM ARM FOR SCRAPING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GROUND, AND FORMING A DOWNWARD CONTINUATION OF SAID CUTTINGS CONFINING PLATE, AND HYDRAULIC CYLINDER AND PISTON MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID SCRAPER BLADE AND ROOF ENGAGING PLATE FOR ENGAGING SAID ROOF ENGAGING PLATE WITH A MINE ROOF AND FOR RAISING SAID SCRAPER BLADE ABOVE THE GROUND AS SAID ROOF ENGAGING PLATE IS IN A LOWERMOST POSITION OF ADJUSTMENT. 